PASSHE unveils plan to consolidate; Poll-watcher rules; Latino survey finds many struggling

Declining enrollments at the 14-member Pennsylvania System of Higher Education universities has resulted in plans for a significant shake up of the system.

PASSHE plans to integrate six of its universities into two regional combinations as part of a strategy to slow down their financial losses.

Under the plan, Edinboro, Clarion and California University of Pennsylvania will be combined into one regional University and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield will be combined into another.

PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein appears on Smart Talk Monday to offer details.

Also, the Trump Administration wants poll watchers to observe at Pennsylvania voting locations on Election Day next Tuesday. It’s been described as an effort to ensure voting is conducted legally and without fraud.

Pennsylvania has rules in place for what observers can do on Election Day.

WITF reporter Emily Previti covers elections and answers questions on Monday’s program. If voters have a concern at the polls reference poll watching, the nonpartisan election protection coalition is 866-OUR-VOTE

Finally, an immigrant rights group has released a study aimed at providing a snapshot of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on Latinos.

Make The Road Pennsylvania says it found a majority of those polled are struggling to get by during the pandemic and as a result, less likely to vote.

Anthony Orozco, WITF Latino Communities Reporter and Report For America Fellow appears on Smart Talk to discuss the findings.